Rather than leave the honour to a professional photographer, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway snapped the first-ever pictures of his newborn baby, capturing day-old Princess Ingrid Alexandra in her royal debut.

The proud papa is obviously set to be a hands-on dad, having cut the umbilical cord after his little princess came into the world on Wednesday. And wide-eyed Ingrid Alexandra seemed happy to oblige her familiar photographer, looking picture perfect in the candid shots.

And as crowds of well-wishers flock to the royal palace to sign a book of congratulations for the happy family, there was some other good news. According to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, the vast majority of the Norwegian public approve of the baby&#39;s moniker, which pays homage to her royal ancestry.

Originally posted by Sisi@Jan 23rd, 2004 - 6:28 am She really is a beauty. Has anybody any information about the godparents-to-be? In a Finnish newspaper they assumed that Victoria will be the godmother.

Victoria is going to be mighty busy this year attending all of these christenings that newspapers claim she will be goparent at&#33; She will also be attending weddings.

A proud father has just released the first pictures of Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway.

The private pictures of the Norwegian princess were published on the Norwegian Royal Court’s own website Thursday evening.

Ingrid Alexandra was born at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, on the morning of January 21, 2004.

Resembles her grandparents

King Harald and Queen Sonja said Wednesday that the newborn looked like them. Crown Prince Haakon stated on his first public appearance after the birth of his daughter that the Princess had dark hair and facial features from both him and from the Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

The Princess weighed 3686 gram, and she is 51 centimetres long. The birth took roughly five hours, according to the Crown Prince himself.

Our new princess’ name was made public just after an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the Royal Castle at 11 a.m. Thursday. Alexandra is a well-known royal name in Europe, while Mette-Marit’s grandmother is named Ingrid.

Almost everybody likes Ingrid

77 percent likes the name Ingrid Alexandra, according to a survey conducted by MMI on behalf of Dagbladet. Women are more positive to the name than men. Only eight percent were directly negative to the name, while 15 percent had no opinion.

Unusual

The fact that Crown Prince Haakon have taken the pictures himself and published them on the website is something new. At earlier occasions have the royal children been photographed by the agency Scanpix.

When Crown Prince Haakon was born, it took six days before he was photographed. He was photographed together with his parents.

Beautiful and dignified name

The Princess’ aunt and uncle, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn meet the press Thursday afternoon, and Princess Märtha Louise stated that it was very nice that Ingrid Alexandra was named after her great-grandfather Olav V, who originally was named Alexander.

“It was a very beautiful and dignified royal name,” Märtha Louise said.

Public opinion polls indicate that a vast majority of Norwegians are happy with the name chosen for the baby girl born this week who will be their queen if the monarchy survives another generation. She may face a lifetime of international mispronunciation, though, along with local misspelling.

Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) was among the first to fall into the misspelling trap. Shortly after the prime minister announced the name of Norway&#39;s royal heir, NRK flashed it on the screen as "Ingrid Aleksandra," using the customary local way of spelling words that contain the word "x" in their international form.

The little princess&#39; first name is pronounced "Ing-gree" throughout Scandinavia. But when she one day visits England or the US, for example, she&#39;ll likely be addressed as "Ing-gridd," unless palace officials advise those on the receiving end in advance.

Otherwise, a spate of royal enthusiasm and a surge of support for the monarchy left most praising Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit&#39;s choice of a name. "It&#39;s a fine name," said opera star Ingrid Bjoner, claiming she would have liked it even if she didn&#39;t share the name herself.

Another relatively famous Ingrid in Norway, marathon runner Ingrid Kristiansen, called it "a Nordic name that many known persons have had throughout history." Not least Ingrid Bergman.

Scores of Norwegians continued to line up in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo on Friday to write their personal congratulations in an official ledger set out for the purpose.

Meanwhile, some enterprising Norwegians immediately snapped up the Internet domains for variations of "Ingrid Alexandra." Most were eager to cash in on commercial potential, but one man in Aalesund who bought the rights to "ingridalexandra.org," among others, referred all traffic further to Norway&#39;s official royal web site, "kongehuset.no"

"Flowers and gifts streamed in to little Ingrid Alexandra on Thursday as well-wishers queued in biting cold outside the palace in order to write a greeting in the palace ledger and drop off a token of their affection for Norway&#39;s first female heir to the throne.

After ministers and diplomats had registered their congratulations in the palace album ordinary citizens in all ages patiently waited their turn to record their message to the newborn princess and her parents.

Palace staff was busy handling the flood of greetings and gifts.

"There have been lots of flowers and other gifts, letters and drawings from far and near, high and low," said palace information chief Wenche Rasch.

Two of the palace staff are nearly fully occupied with registering and sorting everything that comes in, and first bouquets and presents must go through x-ray security.

Afterwards the gifts and flowers rest in the lower floor of the palace before being sent on to the crown prince couple&#39;s residence in Skaugum, in Asker, about 25 minutes drive from Oslo.

The waiting bounty includes toys, books, and home-knitted clothing, all visible signs of the affection the Norwegian people already hold for their future queen."

Originally posted by Dennism@Jan 23rd, 2004 - 3:13 pm Meanwhile, some enterprising Norwegians immediately snapped up the Internet domains for variations of "Ingrid Alexandra." Most were eager to cash in on commercial potential, but one man in Aalesund who bought the rights to "ingridalexandra.org," among others, referred all traffic further to Norway&#39;s official royal web site, "kongehuset.no"

That man in Ålesund stated that he didn&#39;t intend to cash in on it at all, and if the Royal House showed their interest in it he would give it to them. :flower: to him.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit won&#39;t get the same child benefits from the government that other mothers around in Norway are entitled to. But the Crown Prince Couple may receive more money yearly from the state. The Prime Minister is considering increasing their "allowance" from the five million NKR they get today.

I have some news myself, my older sister was expecting her first baby in the beginning of february, but she gave birth to a little son on sunday (2965 g and 50 cm). I guess he heard about Ingrid and decided to be born as well... So, I&#39;m a new auntie...

I have some news myself, my older sister was expecting her first baby in the beginning of february, but she gave birth to a little son on sunday (2965 g and 50 cm). I guess he heard about Ingrid and decided to be born as well... So, I&#39;m a new auntie...

congratulations to you and your sister :)

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